NOAA Fisheries is interested in public comment on a draft environmental impact statement for Amendment 40 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. The Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of the draft statement on Sept 5 of this year. The purpose of the draft statement is to analyze the effects of creating distinct private-angling and federal for-hire components of the recreational red snapper sector and allocate snapper resources between these recreational components.

NOAA Fisheries must receive comments no later than October 20, 2014. You may obtain an electronic copy of the statement at http://sero.nmfs.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_fisheries/reef_fish/2013/am40/index.html or the e-Rule Making Portal at: www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0107 Click the “Comment Now!” button. Enter “N/A” in the required fields if you want to remain anonymous. You can also attach files up to 10MB in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats.

You may mail written comments to Peter Hood, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg FL 33701.

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